INDEX:

1. ABSTRACT

2. INTRODUCTION

3. GROUND IMPROVEMENT TECHNICS

3.1REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF SOIL

3.2 PRECOMPRESSION OF SOIL

3.3DENSIFICATION TECHNQUES

3.3.1 VIBRO TECHNICS

3.3.1.1 VIBRO COMPACTION

3.3.1.2 VIBROFLOTATION

3.3.2 DYNAMIC COMPACTION

3.3.3 BLASTING

3.3.4 COMPACTION GROUTING

3.4 REINFORCEMENT TECHNIQUES

3.4.1 STONE COLUMNS

3.4.2 COMPACTION PILES

3.4.3 DRILLED INCLUSIONS

3.5 GROUTING TECHNIQUES

3.5.1 PERMEATION GROUTING

3.5.2. JET GROUTING

3.6 STABILIZATION USING ADMIXTURES

3.6.1 MECHANICAL STABILIZATION

3.6.2 CHEMICAL STABILIZATION

3.6.2.1 CEMENT STABILIZATION

3.6.2.2 LIME STABILIZATION

3.6.2.3 FLY ASH STABILIZATION

3.7 GEO TEXTILES

3.8 ELECTROOSMASIS METHOD

4. CONCLUSION

5.BIBILOGRAPHY
 techniques. Based on the mechanism applied
for compacting the soil, it is sub divided into
different methods like dynamic compaction,
blasting, vibro techniques ...etc.These

1. ABSTACT:

Ground improvement is the

most imaginative field of geotechnical
engineering. It is a field in which the are briefly discussed in this paper.

engineer forces the ground to adopt the

When there are some
project's requirements, by altering the
limitations encountered for applying the
natural state of the soil, instead of having to
above technique, grouting techniques,
alter the design in response to the ground's
stabilization of soil using different
natural limitations. The results usually
include saving in construction cost and admixtures can be adopted effectively

reduction of implementation time. which can bring variations in the soil

conditions. The various types of above
There are number of techniques
techniques are briefly discussed in this
available for improving the mechanical and
paper.
engineering properties of the soil. However,
Finally, recent advancements in
each technique has some limitations and suit
ground improving techniques using
GEOTEXTILES, ELECTRIC
TREATMENT METHODES are also briefly
discussed in this paper. These techniques are
abilities to get maximum improvement in widely used in these days.
the soil conditions with minimum effort.
Some of the important techniques are
discussed in this paper. 2. INTRODUCTION:

To improve the strength of the Large civil engineering

soils, especially in case of granular type of projects are being executed in all over
soils, COMPACTION METHODES are the country in order to enhance the
found as best methods among all type of infrastructure of the country.
Infrastructure facilities have to be often
built at sites where the soil conditions
are not ideal. The insitu
characteristics of a construction site are
different from those desired, and almost
always far from ideal for a designed
need. With increased
development, site with favorable
foundation conditions became depleted.
At times the civil engineer has been
forced to construct structures at site
selected for reasons other than soil
conditions. Thus it is increasingly
important for the engineer to know the
degree to which soil properties may be
improved or other alterations that can be
thought of for construction of an
intended structure at stipulated site.
If unsuitable soil conditions are
encountered at the site of a proposed
structure, one of the following
procedures may be adopted to insure
satisfactory performance of the structure.
By pass the unsuitable soil by
means of deep foundations
extending to a suitable bearing
material.
Redesign the structure and it's
foundation for support by the poor
soil. This procedure may not be
feasible or economical.
Remove the poor material and either
treat it to improve and replace it (or)
substitute for it with a suitable
soil material.
Treat the soil in place to improve its
properties.
Rigid foundations such as piling
urban present a solution but these are often
expensive. In such circumstances,
ground improvement using different
techniques offers a proved and economic
solution. At present a variety of soil
improvement techniques are available
for making soil to bear any type of
structure on it and also for mitigation of
seismic hazards. The costs of these
methods vary widely and the conditions
under which they can be used are
influenced by nature and proximity of
structures and construction facilities.
four
3. GROUND IMPROVEMENT
TECHNIQUES:
On the basis of mechanism by
which they improve the engineering
properties of soil, the most of common
of these can be divided into the
following major categories. These are
Densification techniques.
Reinforcement techniques.
Stabilization techniques.
Miscellaneous methods
 ground water table. Earthwork
Apart from the methods listed operations become more difficult when
above, there are some other simple the soil is very wet, even when the free
methods like removal and replacement water pumped out, and thus are
of soil. In this paper these are discussed generally avoided unless absolutely
first before taking up above techniques. necessary.
3.1. REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT
OF SOIL:
3.2. PRECOMPRESSION OF SOIL:
One of the oldest and simplest
Another old and simple method
soil improvement methods is to simply
of improving soils is to cover them with
excavate the unsuitable soil and replace
a temporary surcharge fill as shown in
them with compacted fill. This method is
figure. This method is called
often used when the problem the soil is
precompression, preloading, or
that it is too loose. In that case, the same
surcharging. It is especially useful in soft
soils used to build the fill, except now it
clayey and silty soils because the static
has a higher unit weight (because of
weight of the fill causes them to
compaction) and thus has been better
consolidate, thus improving both
engineering properties. This is a
settlement and strength properties. Once
common way to remediate problems
the desired properties have been
with collapsible soils.
obtained, the surcharge is removed and
construction proceeds on improved site.
Removal also may be available
Pre-compression has the following
option when the excavated soils have other
advantages
problems, such as contamination or
excessive organics, and need to hauled It requires only conventional

away. This method can be expensive equipment earthmoving equipment,

because of the hauling costs and the need for which is readily available. No
imported soils to replace those that were special or proprietary equipment is
excavated. It also can be difficult to find a needed.
suitable disposal site for the excavated soils. Any grading contractor can perform
the work.
Removal and replacement is
generally practical only above the The results can be effectively
 monitored by using appropriate stiffness of the soil is higher when the
instrumentation and ground level particles are packed in a dense
surveys. configuration than they are packed
The method has a long track record loosely. As a result, densification is one
of success. of the most effective and commonly
The cost is comparatively low, so used means of improving soil
long as soil for preloading is readily characteristics. This can be approaches
available. in following ways.

However, there also are

disadvantages
3.3.1 VIBRO TECHNIQUES:
The surcharge fill generally must
Vibro techniques use probes that
extend horizontally at least 10m
are vibrated through soil deposit in a
beyond the perimeter of the planned
construction. This may not possible
grid pattern to densify the soil over the

for confined sites. entire area of thickness of the deposit.

These are classified in to the following
The transport of large quantities of
methods. These are
soil onto the sites may not be
practical, or may have unacceptable
environmental impacts (i.e., dust, 3.3.1.1VIBRO COMPACTION:

noise, traffic) on the adjacent areas.

Vibro compaction is a method
The surcharge must remain in place for compacting deep granular soils by
for months or years, thus delay in repeatedly inserting a vibratory probe. It
construction. is also known as VIBRO
DENSIFICATION.
By inserting depth vibrators, the
vibrations are produced by rotating a
heavy eccentric weight with the help of
an electrical motor with in the vibrator.
The vibratory energy is used to
3.3 DENSIFICATION TECHNIQUES:
rearrange the granular particles in a
The strength and denser state. Penetration of the vibro
probe is typically aided by water jetting
at the tip of the probe.
3.3.1.2. VIBRO FLOTATION:

In vibro flotation a torpedo like

The Vibro-Compaction Process
probe (the vibro float) suspended by a
crane is used to density a soil
deposit.Vibro floats usually 12 to 18
inch in diameter and about10 to 16 ft
long, contain weights mounted
eccentrically on a central shaft driven by
electric or hydraulic power.
The vibro float is initially
lowered to the bottom of the deposit by a
combination of vibration and water or
air jetting through ports in its pointed
nose cone. The vibro float is then
incrementally with drawn in 2 to 3 ft
intervals at an over all rate of about 1ft /
min while still vibrating. Water may be
jetted through ports in the upper part of
the vibro float to loosen the soil above
the vibro float temporarily and aid in its
Some of advantages and disadvantages of with drawl. The vibrations produce a
this method are given below. localized zone of temporary liquefaction
that causes the soil surrounding the vibro
It is often an economical alternative
float to densify.
to deep foundations, especially
Principle of the technique
when considering the added
liquefaction protection in seismic
areas.
It is most effective in granular soils
It cannot be used in cohesive soils

Vibro flotation is most effective
in clear granular soils with the
fine contents less than 20% and
to be an effective and economical
alternative to preloading, foundation
piling, deep vibratory compaction, and
soil undercutting and replacement

clay contents below 3%.

Vibro flotation has been used
successfully to density soils to
deep [this of up to 115 ft.] Dynamic Compaction is normally used
under the following circumstances:

To increase in-situ density and in

3.3.2. DYNAMIC COMPACTION:
this way improve the bearing
capacity and consolidation
characteristics of soils (or waste
materials) to allow conventional
foundation and surface bed
construction to be carried out. The
technique typically improves the in-
situ soils such that allowable
bearing pressures of up to 250 Kpa
can be used with foundation
settlements of the order of 10 to 20
mm.
Dynamic compaction is a ground
To increase in-situ density and in
improvement process for compacting
this way improve in-situ
and strengthening loose or soft soils to
permeability and/or reduce
support buildings, roadways, and other
liquefaction potential
heavy construction. The method
What soils are suitable?
involves the systematic dropping of
Most soil types can be
heavy weights, 100 to 400kN, from a
improved, including silts and some
height of 5 to 30m, in a pattern designed
clays. The most commonly treated soils
to remedy poor soil conditions at the
are old fills and granular virgin soils.
proposed building site. In soft ground
Soils below the water table are routinely
areas, dynamic compaction has proved
treated. However, careful control has to produces strong vibrations that
be used to allow dissipation of excess may damage near by structures
pore pressures created during the weight or produce significant ground
dropping. movements.

3.3.4. COMPACTION GROUTOING:

3.3. 3. BLASTING:

Compaction grouting
Blasting densification
uses displacement to improve ground
involves the detonation of multiple
conditions. A very viscous (low
explosive charges vertically spaced at 10
mobility) aggregate is pumped in stages,
to 20 ft apart in drilled or jetted bore
forming grout bulbs, which displace and
holes. The bore holes are usually spaced
densify the surrounding soils.
between 15 to 50 ft apart and back filled
prior to detonation. The efficiency of
A consistency soil
densification process can be increased
cement paste is injected under pressure
by detonating the charges at different
in to the soil mass, consolidating, and
elevations at small time delays.
there by densifying surrounding soils in
Immediately after detonation, the ground
place. The injected ground mass
surface rises & gas & water are expelled
occupies void space created by pressure-
from fractures. The ground surface then
densification. Pump pressure transmitted
settles as the excess gas & water
through low mobility grout, produces
pressure dissipates. Two or three rounds
compaction by displacing soil at depth
of blasting are often used to achieve the
until resisted by the weight of over lying
desired degree of densification.
soils.

Blasting is most effective in

Fine grained soils with sufficient
loose sands that contain less than
permeability to allow excess
20% silt and less than 5% clay.
water to dissipate best suits for
compaction grouting.
Although blasting is quite
economical, it is limited by
several considerations, as it
 It has also been used successfully the process of vibroflotation) In the
in a wide variety of soils and Frankie method, a steel casing initially
fills. closed at the bottom by a gravel plug is
driven to the desired depth by an internal
3.4. REINFORCEMENT hammer. At that depth part of the plug is
TECHNIQUES: driven beyond the bottom of the casing
to form a bulb of gravel. Additional
In some cases it is possible to
gravel is then added and compacted as
improve the strength and stiffness of a
the casing is with drawn. The diameter
existing soil deposit by installing
of the resulting stone column depends on
discrete inclusions that reinforce the soil.
the stiffness and compressibility of the
These inclusions may consist of
surrounded soil
structural materials, such as steel,
concrete or timber and geomaterials 3.4.2. COMPACTION PILES:
such as densified gravel.
Granular soils can be improved
3.4.1. STONE COLUMNS: by the installation of compaction piles.
Compaction piles are displacement
Soils deposits can be improved
piles , usually prestressed concrete or
by the installation of dense columns of
timber, that are driven into a loose sand
gravel known as stone columns. They
or gravel deposit in a grid pattern and
may be used in both fine and coarse
left there.
grained soils. In fine-grained soils, stone
columns are used to increase the shear Compaction piles improve the
strength beneath structures and seismic performance of a soil by three
embankments by accelerating different mechanisms. First the flexural
consolidation (by allowing radial strength of piles themselves provides
drainage) and introducing columns of resistance to soil movement
stronger material. (reinforcement). Second, the vibrations
and displacements produced by their
Stone columns can be installed in
installation cause densification. Finally,
a variety of ways. (They may be
the installation process increases the
constructed by introducing gravel during
lateral stress in the soil surrounding the
piles.
Compaction piles generally
densify the soil with in a distance of 7 to
12 pile diameters and consequently are
usually installed in a grid pattern.
Between compaction piles a relative
density of up to 75% to 80% are usually
achieved. Improvement can be obtained
with reasonable economy to depth of
about 60ft.
3.4.3 DRILLED INCLUSIONS:
Structural reinforcing elements
can also be installed in the ground by
drilling or auguring. Drilled shafts, some
times with very large diameters, have
been used to stabilize many slopes.
Soil nails, tie backs, micro piles
have been used for this purpose. The
installation of such drilled inclusions can
be quite difficult. However in the loose
granular soils that contribute to increase
the strength of the soil in a every
effective manner.
3.5 GROUTING AND MIXING
TECHNIQUES:
Grouting techniques involve of
cementitious materials into voids of the
soil or into fractures in the soil so that
the particle structure of the majority of
the soil remains intact.
Mixing techniques introduce
cementitious materials by physically
mixing them with the soil, completely
disturbing the particle structure of the
soil. Grouting and mixing techniques
tend to be expensive but can often be
accomplished with minimal settlement
or vibration.
3.5.1.PERMEATION GROUTING:
Permeation grouting involves the
injection of low viscosity liquid grout
into the voids of the soil without
disturbing the soil structure. Particulate
grouts (i.e., aqueous suspensions of
cement, fly ash, bentonite, micro fine
cement or some combination there of) or
chemical grouts (e.g., silica & lignin
gels, or phenolic & acrylic resins) may
be used.
Grout pipes are typically
installed in a grid pattern at spacing of 4
to 8 feet. The grout may be injected in
different ways. In stage grouting, a
boring is advanced a short distance
before grout is injected through the end
of the drill rod. After the grout sets up,
the boring is advanced another short
3.5.2. JET GROUTING:
distance and grouted again. This process
continues until grout has been placed to
the desired depth.

Permeation grouting produces

soil improvement by two mechanisms.
First the grout tends to strengthen the
contacts between individual soil grains,
there by producing a soil skeleton that is
stronger and stiffer than that of the un :
grouted soil. Second, the grout takes up
In Jet grouting the soil is mixed
space in the voids between soil particles,
with cement grout injected horizontally
reducing the tendency for densification.
under high pressure in a previously
Stopping leaks in below- drilled bore hole.
grade structures
Jet grouting uses a special pipe
Stopping leaks in below-
equipped with horizontal jets that inject
grade utilities
grout into the soil at high pressure. The
Excavating support of non-
pipes are first inserted to the desired
corrosive soils
depth, then they are raised and rotated
Strengthening of soil mass
while the injection is in progress, thus
to accept new loads
forming a column of treated soil.

Because of high pressure, this

method is usable on a wide range of
soil types.

3.6. STABILIZATON USING
ADMIXTURES:
SOIL STABILIZATION: It is the process
of improving the engineering properties of
soil by mixing some binding agents thus
binding the soil particles .In a broader sense
it also includes compaction,
consolidation and many more such process.
Soil stabilization is classified as
Mechanical stabilization
Chemical stabilization
3.6.1.MECHANICAL STABILIZATION:
Mechanical stabilization is the process of
improving the properties of soil by changing
its gradation. Two (or) more types of natural
soils mixed to obtain composite which is
suspension to any of its components
3.6.2. CHEMICAL STABILIZATION:
Chemical stabilization is the form of lime,
cement, fly ash and the combination of the
above is widely used in soil stabilization to
Reduce the permeability of the soil.
Improve shear strength.
Increase bearing strength.
Decrease settlement.
Soil and chemicals are mixed either
mechanically in place or by bath process
.the optimum benefit of using these agents
in stabilization must be determined by
laboratory testing. The general principle of
these admixtures as stabilizers are discussed
below.
3.6.2.1. LIME STABILIZATION: This is
pre
done by adding lime to soil. It is useful for
stabilization of clayed soils. When lime
reacts with soil, there is exchange of cations
in the adsorbed water layer and a decrease in
plasticity of soil occurs .The resulting
material is more friable than the original
clay and is therefore more suitable as sub
grade.
This method is not effective for
sandy soils. However these soils can be
stabilized in combination with clay, fly
ash or other pozzolanic materials, which
serve hydraulically reactive in gradients.
3.6.2.2. CEMENT STABILIZATION:
Cement stabilization is done by mixing
pulverized soil and Portland cement with
water and compacting the mix to attain a
strong material .The material obtain by
mixing soil and cement is known as soil
cement .The mix becomes hard and durable
structural material as the cement hydrates
and develops strength.
The soil cement is quite weather
resistant and strong. It is commonly used
for stabilizing sandy and other low
plasticity soils. Cement interacts with
the silt and clay fractions and reduced
their affinity for water .It reduces the
swelling characteristics of the soil .
3.6.2.3. FLY ASH STABILIZATION: Fly
ash is a by product of the pulverized coal
combustion process. Fly ash has silica,
alumina and various oxides and alkalis as its
constituents .It is fine grained
pozzolanic in nature. Fly ash reacts actively
with hydrated lime and hence is used in
combination with lime as a stabilizer. A
mixture of about 10 to 35 % of fly ash and 2
to 10 % of lime forms as effective stabilizer
for stabilization of highway bases and sub
bases .Soil-lime-fly ash mixes
compacted under controlled condition with
adequate quantity of water.
3.7. GEOTEXTILES: Soil conditions can
be improved in an excellent manner by
using geo textiles. Geotextiles are porous
fabrics manufactured products and others
such as polyester ,polyethylene,
polypropylene and polyvinylchloride, nylon,
fiber glass and various mixtures of these.
These are having permeabilities comparable
in range from coarse gravel to fine sand.
Geotextiles have been used in a
variety of civil engineering works. Thus
in the selection of a proper geotextile,
due importance has to be given to the
major function that the geotextile is
intended to perform. These are majorly
used as follows.
1. They acts as separators between
two layers of soils having a large difference
in particle size to prevent migration of small
size particles into the voids of large size
particles
and
2. They act as filter. When the
silt laden turbid water passes through the
geotextile, the silt particles are prevented
from movement by the geotextile.
3. Geotextiles themselves function
as a drain because they have a high water
are
transporting capacity than that of the
surrounding material.
4. They serve as REINFOREMENT
in soil since they are a good in tensile
strength.
3.7. ELECTRO OSMASIS AND
ELCTRO CHEMICAL HARDENING 2. Mainly soil improvement
METHOD: techniques can be divided in to
four broad categories;
The electroosmasis process can
Densification technique,
be used to increase the shear strength
Reinforcement technique,
and reduce the compressibility of soft
grouting or mixing technique and
clayey and silty soils beneath
stabilization technique.
foundation. By introducing an
electrolyte such as calcium chloride at
3. Densification is probably the
the anode, the base exchange reaction
most commonly used soil
between the iron anode and surrounding
improvement technique. Most
soil is increased, resulting in the
densification techniques relay on
formation of ferric hydroxides which
tendency of granular soils to
bind the soil particles together. However
densify when subjected to
because cost of electric power and
vibrations. However there is a
wastage of electrodes, electroosmasis
possibility of damaging adjacent
with or without electrochemical
structures and pipelines due to
hardening can be considered only for
application of this technique.
special situations where the alternative
of piling cannot be adopted. 4. Reinforcement techniques
4. CONCLUSION: introduce discrete inclusions that
stiffen and strengthen a soil
1. Unfavorable soil conditions can
deposit. The high stiffness and
frequently be improved using
strength of the inclusions also
soil improvement techniques. A
tend to reduce the stresses
variety of soil improvement
imposed on the weaker material
techniques have been developed.
between the inclusions.
However a suitable technique has
to be adopt according to 5. Grouting techniques involve the
necessity of the structure and injection of cementitious
economy. materials into the voids of the
soil or into fractures of the soil,
 so that the particle structure of 2. Foundation Design &
the majority of soil remains Cinstruction by M.J.Tomlinson.
inject. In permeation grouting,
3. Geotechnical Engineering by
very low viscosity grouts are
Purshotham raj
injected intothe voids of the soil
with out disturbing the soil
4. Geotechnical Earthquake
structure. In intrusion grouting,
Engineering by Steven
thicker and more viscous grouts
L.Kramar.
are injected under pressure to
cause controlled fracturing of the
soil.

6. Now a days, geotextiles are

extensively used for improving
the soil conditions. These has
multiple applications as they act
as filters, reinforcement,
separations..etc.
.

5. BIBILOGRAPHY:

1. Geotechnical Engineering
Principles & Practices by Donald
P.Coduto